Easter in Rome: free museum openings, major exhibitions and concerts in

Easter in Rome: museums, exhibitions and music to check out

Over the Easter period Rome offers a rich cultural programme for both visitors and residents. On the first Sunday of the month many civic museums and archaeological sites are accessible free of charge, while special openings and musical events are planned for the Easter Monday holiday.

Free museum and site openings

The regular first-Sunday initiative allows free access to several museums and archaeological areas. Key destinations include:

• Monuments and archaeology: the Colosseum, the Imperial Fora (entrance via Trajan’s Column), the Circus Maximus, the Pantheon and Largo Argentina.
• Civic collections: Capitoline Museums, Gallery of Modern Art, Museum of Rome, Centrale Montemartini, Villa Torlonia museums.
• Archaeological parks: Appian Way Park (Villa dei Quintili, Cecilia Metella Mausoleum), Veio Archaeological Park, the Tombs Park on the Via Latina.
• State institutions open: Galleria Borghese, National Roman Museum (Palazzo Massimo, Baths of Diocletian, Crypta Balbi), Villa Giulia Etruscan Museum, Castel Sant’Angelo and others.

Exhibitions to see

Top exhibitions in the city offer varied perspectives and international loans:

• Vasari and Rome – at the Capitoline Museums, a display of works and documents tracing the artist’s relationship with the city and his professional growth.
• Treasures of the Pharaohs – at the Scuderie del Quirinale, more than a hundred artifacts from Egyptian collections presented in thematic sections.
• Flowers. From the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence – at the Chiostro del Bramante, a journey linking art, botanical collections and contemporary digital experiments.
• Impressionism and Beyond – at the Ara Pacis Museum, a selection of masterpieces from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• From Vienna to Rome. Wonders of the Habsburgs – at the Museo del Corso, artworks from the Kunsthistorisches Museum illustrating the cultural legacy of the Habsburgs.

Music and special events

Live music events include liturgical and classical music performances:

• Easter Monday Concert – the traditional concert at the Pantheon typically starts in the late afternoon.
• Festival of Easter – continues with concerts in several Roman basilicas focusing on opera and classical repertoire.
• Many venues will remain open on Easter Monday, offering guided tours and family activities.

Practical tips

To make the most of your visit:

• Check opening hours and access rules on the official site of each museum or archaeological park.
• Book in advance for high-demand exhibitions or guided tours to avoid long queues.
• Look for designated routes or special entrances (for example, access to the Forums via Trajan’s Column).

Rome’s cultural offer during the Easter period covers archaeology, fine arts and live music, with many opportunities to visit museums and collections at no charge on the indicated days.